Allegations of Misappropriating Public Funds
Two top officials at the National Medical University named after O. O. Bogomolets face accusations of misusing government funds and neglecting their duties during renovation projects. The estimated damage to the state budget is close to 16 million UAH. Specifically, over 13.7 million UAH relates to facade repairs of an academic building, while more than 2.2 million UAH concerns roof repairs.
The individuals under suspicion are the university’s rector, Yuriy Kuchyna, and the vice-rector for economic affairs, Volodymyr Titykalo. Investigations revealed that in 2020, one of these leaders orchestrated inflated volumes and costs for the renovation work. Notably, the contractor hired lacked the official permits required to carry out the repairs. Funds allocated for the renovations were transferred to accounts controlled by affiliated private entrepreneurs and then withdrawn in cash.
Additional Details and Legal Implications
Furthermore, in 2021, the university signed a contract worth 10.9 million UAH with the same company to repair the roof, despite the roof having been fully replaced during 2014–2015. The contract’s price was artificially inflated due to inadequate technical supervision and approval of documents without proper verification. The accused officials face charges of organizing large-scale embezzlement of public funds (Part 3, Article 27; Part 5, Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine) and official negligence causing serious consequences (Part 2, Article 367 of the Criminal Code).
Legal proceedings against three other involved parties—the director of the contractor company, the technical supervision engineer, and the university department head—have already been forwarded to court. The Kyiv City Prosecutor’s Office and the Shevchenkivskyi District Prosecutor’s Office of Kyiv are leading the investigation. According to Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, all suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court verdict.
This case highlights the critical need for stringent oversight of public spending within state institutions, especially when resources are limited.
Uncovering these fraudulent schemes can improve transparency in managing government finances and help prevent similar abuses in the future. Holding responsible individuals accountable sends a clear message deterring potential offenders.